The 39th renewal of the R2,5 million Gr1 J&B Met looks relatively straightforward on paper. Last year’s winner Futura is fit and looks ready to go in again – if he can get to the progressive year younger Legal Eagle, whose recent sensational L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate victory thrust him into the spotlight at the top of the betting boards.
Sean Tarry-trained trained Legal Eagle is taking the same route followed to Met stardom last year by Futura, and history shows our prestigious weight-for-age mile to be an excellent pointer to Saturday’s race.
Legal Eagle is certainly worthy of favouritism .
Legal Eagle – worthy favourite
The Gr1 SA Derby winner earned the freedom of Cape Town at his first start in the Mother City when he ran handily and pulverised his opposition over a distance supposedly short of his best.
He beat all his main challengers here, and the 400m extra can surely only play into his hands.
Recent Paddock Stakes winner Smart Call is the only member of the fairer sex in the race and has earned her place courtesy of an excellent prep and three confidence boosting straight wins, strategized by top conditioner, Alec Laird.
Smart Call – the filly could get the better of the boys
The daughter of Ideal World is a Gr1 winner at 2000m against her own sex and should be even more effective over the extra 200m after her annihilation of subsequent Majorca winner Inara in the Paddock Stakes.
She is a versatile sort who can settle or run handy, and her clash with Legal Eagle in the final stages should make for a fascinating spectacle – if the race unfolds like that
Smart Call has massive footsteps to walk in – she will attempt to follow River Jetez (2010) and Igugu (2012) in the J & B Met – and a Breeders’ Cup date looms large later in the year.
Major opposition to Legal Eagle will be Futura, a magnificent entire son of super stallion Dynasty, and horse who achieved the rare LQP-Met double last year.
Last year’s winner Futura – big effort expected again
He has had only two runs since a cracking win in the Gr1 Champions Cup on Super Saturday.
He was tactically outpointed by the front-running Captain America in the Gr2 Green Point Stakes, where he got to within a frustrati8ng half length of the winner.
Futura’s run in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate was not his best effort.
He failed to react to the Legal Eagle fireworks up-front and could only stay on to grab fifth place and a length behind Captain America – which sort of confirmed the Green Point form.
Going 400m extra here, it is reasonable to assume that the Snaiths will have a tactical plan to have Futura nicely settled off a decent pace.
His stablemate Legislate was beaten 1,50 lengths by Legal Eagle in the Queen’s Plate and has only his second outing following a six month respite when beaten just under 3 lengths by Futura in the 1800m Champions Cup.
Legislate – Strydom and a good draw could spell some stress for Legal Eagle supporters
Lest we forget that Legislate won the Cape Derby, the Daily News 2000 and the Vodacom Durban July two seasons back.
Fitter and with Piere Strydom retaining the ride, it is a foolish man that will underestimate this entire.
Unlike Legislate, there is nothing in Captain America’s impressive CV to suggest he is more effective over Saturday’s trip.
Except that is, for his runner-up berth to Legislate in the 2014 Investec Cape Derby.
Captain America had things go his own way when winning the Green Point Stakes, and had excuses when squeezed late in the Queen’s Plate, where he ran a 1,50 length fourth.
Master Sabina – can only improve on L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate run
Sansui Summer Cup winner Master Sabina has his second run in the Cape since casting a shoe and running seventh and 5,05 lengths back in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.
His blood picture prior to the recent official gallops was reported to be spot on, and while he is a ‘soft’ worker in view of an old tendon injury, he is a fellow who could bounce back over a trip that he will relish.
His stablemate Deo Juvente has been withdrawn as a result of an injury incurred at Milnerton training.
.The top six are without question the chief protagonists, but let’s take a look at the balance to see whether we can unearth a hidden gem.
Paterfamilias will be ridden by Bass stable jockey Grant van Niekerk, who suggested after his recent Gr2 Premier Trophy win that this is a horse to take seriously in the Met.
Paterframilias – his jockey rates his chances
He beat Gold Onyx last time by 1,25 lengths at level weights, in a race that may produce questionable form – but Paterfamilias could only win, and win he did.
At his penultimate start, he caught the eye when chasing Captain America and Futura home in the Green Point Stakes. From a 13 draw, he wil need to enjoy some luck in the running but could prove the value as a place bet, for those who follow his jockey’s positive assessment.
8yo Gold Onyx is the old man of the race and stablemate to the favourite.
Evergreen Gold Onyx – always a quartet factor
The son of Black Minnaloushe ran on very well in the Premier Trophy but then failed to show in what was a very strong L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.
His form over his 53 run career has always been honest and he relishes his stints down in Cape Town, where he comes good. His 15 draw is a negative.
Vodacom Durban July runner-up Punta Arenas has not yet sparked this term and looks to have a tough task at the conditions of the race.
Punta Arenas – will prefer this and should be fitter
The 7yo son of Silvano ran a decent enough fifth in the Met last year when still racing under the Stan Elley banner and a repeat of that effort could see him burgle a place cheque.
He is as much as 6kgs better off with Light The Lights on the Gr2 Peninsula Handicap where he ran 4,30 lengths off the winner.
With luck in running and a decent pace, Ian Sturgeon could get the best out of the game gelding and a place chance is not beyond imagination.
The disappointing Helderberg Blue has not won a race since November 2014 and hardly looks the type to produce a giantkilling effort come Saturday.
The son of Jet Master once beat subsequent July winner Power King ina Pinnacle Stakes at Durbanville – his peak career performance.
His recent runs in the Premier Trophy and Peninsula were not bad efforts but probably spoke more about his lack of heart and courage, than absence of genuine ability.
He did run third in the Met last year, and really should finish behind Futura again.
Joey Ramsden’s magnificent grey King Of Pain will catch the attention of the once a year punters.
He has the right colour and a catchy name, but his recent form suggests that he is more ofa hopeful than anything else.
Handsome King Of Pain – outside place chance at best
He showed his wellbeing when running on well over the 1200m for fourth in the Diadem Stakes. He was then slow away when making no show in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.
The former Gr1 Gold Challenge winner has the class, but would need plenty to go his way.
Weiho Marwing’s Mac De Lago boasts an MR 79 Handicap win as his top victory and, much on the lines of a Helderberg Blue, seems like one of those ‘all talk no action’ sorts, who can produce the odd decent effort.
That is demonstrated by his proximity to the top finishers in decent company but he has not won in over a year and that is the wrong mindset for a horse going in trying to win one of our great races.
The best thing in his favour is the engagement of big-race rider Anthony Delpech, who will give him every chance.
The third of the Snaith trio is the Black Minnaloushe colt, Krambambuli.
He races in the same silks as 2013 Met winner Martial Eagle.
The 4yo was placed in the Investec Cape Derby last term but has never won anything of note and looks little more than a tactical inclusion as a possible pacemaker for his more illustrious stablemates.
Krambambuli has drawn wide at 12 and MJ Byleveld replaces Craig Du Plooy. He cannot be fancied.
Glen Kotzen found himself with a decent Met prospect when Light The Lights put it all together to win the Peninsula Handicap in great style at his last outing.
Light The Lights – gets his chance after a superb Gr2 Peninsula Handicap victory
The son of Western Winter, a highly promising youngster, has turned the corner since gelding and this has also allowed them to ride him differently.
His earlier form can be discounted and he can be expected to make even further improvement over the extra ground and is our best outsider in the race.
While the conditions of the race favour the better horses, the chances of an upset cannot be ruled out – particularly with a few having come good at the right time.
There is bound to be a pace, given the size of the prize and the presence of a few who can go out and set the fractions.
Legal Eagle, Futura and Legislate are the obvious three to vie for top honours, with Smart Call in the mix and a huge runners if things go her way.
Light The Lights (only now starting to show his true ability) and Master Sabina could be the quartet kickers.
It is a rare blend of equine quality – jump aboard for the ride of your life!
